'The final day doesn't define a season'

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The play-off dream proved to be a step too far for Derby County this season.

In previous Championship campaigns, losing on the final day and finishing eighth in the table would have been disappointing, particularly with a play-off place up for grabs.

However, looking around Pride Park on Saturday, I didn't see disappointment. Instead I saw a lot of excitement for the future, and a sense that the pressure was off, despite what was on the line.

Most fans were just eager to express their pride in the players, the staff, and the board for a much improved season.

The play-offs felt like a bonus prize.

As I started to feel frustrated when Derby fell behind in the game after leading, I took a few minutes to remember how the final day felt this time last year.

How League One football became so close to being a reality again, and how we survived by the skin of our teeth with a win ratio of just over 28% all season.

Then I thought about this campaign.

How we took over Sheffield and put three past both United and Wednesday on the road, how we won 5-0 at Bristol City away on a Friday night in front of the TV cameras, how we went on a five-game winning run in the league, how we gave some of the best and most in-form teams a run for their money, how our win rate increased to more than 43%.

With all that, I came back to the same conclusion I have reached multiple times this season: This season was never about success, it was about progress.

The Rams have progressed massively over the last 12 months.

Not making the play-offs could actually prove to be a blessing in disguise this time around, as key players such as Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

At the moment, the Rams' depth is not as strong as the teams who have ended up in the top six, and makes our table finish fair in the end.

Knowing we will be in the Championship next season allows us to start preparing now, giving us an entire summer to strengthen the squad further, and set our sights on an even stronger finish this time next year.

The future looks incredibly bright for Derby.

Before my dad passed away in November, he said the Rams would finish in the Championship top 10 this season. It's fair to say I didn't agree with him.

I wish he could have been here to say "I told you so" after Saturday.

However, the doubt I had in that statement last autumn just reinforces how remarkable the turnaround at Derby has been over the past 12 months. From the brink of relegation to genuine promotion contenders once again.

The city feels hopeful, and I for one can't wait to see what happens over the coming months as we welcome another drama-filled Championship season and continue to make positive steps towards our ambition of bringing Premier League football back to Pride Park.

You can often catch Amelia Warren as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.